A Power of Attorney is a document that lets you nominate someone to make financial and other decisions on your behalf. This appointment can take effect immediately, or it can take effect only if you are unable to make those decisions on your own. For example, if you become mentally incapacitated, or if you are leaving the country for a while, you would be unable to make these important choices for yourself.

A Power of Attorney that continues to be in effect even if you become mentally incapacitated is known as a Durable Power of Attorney. Having a Durable Power of Attorney stops the court from stepping in and taking control of your finances. Without a Durable Power of Attorney, the court would appoint someone to make decisions for you.